18 THE WORLD'S BIRDS. 



CRANES (Gruida). 



DIAGNOSIS. Very tall ground and marsh birds, with 

 nostrils in centre of bill and small useless hind- 

 toe. 



SIZE. From the size of a heron to about five feet 

 high. 



FORM. Bill straight, medium to long, with nostrils 

 situated about in the centre ; corner of mouth 

 below forehead ; thighs bare above hocks ; feet 

 with long shanks and three toes in front, the two 

 outer with a short web at the base, the hinder 

 small, useless, not reaching the ground ; wings 

 large and broad, inner secondaries long or very 

 long, covering primaries and tail in repose ; tail 

 short and square. Head small, neck long, body 

 light. 



PLUMAGE AND COLOURATION. Close and often pow- 

 dery, showing generally only grey, black, and 

 white in large masses. No seasonal change or 

 sexual difference, but fledged young much browner 

 than adults, and with down where these, as usually 

 is the case, have naked skin on head. 



YOUNG. Active, but at first taking food from the 

 bills of the parents ; clad in uniform cinnamon- 

 coloured fluffy down. The young Stanley Crane 

 (Anthropoides paradisea) has grey down. 



EGGS. Two or three ; usually pale, with dark blotches. 



NEST. A mass of rushes, etc., on the ground or piled 

 up in shallow water. 



INCUBATION. About a month. 



COURTSHIP. Very elaborate, performed by dancing, 

 bowing, and posturing with expanded wings. 

 Some can also raise the inner quills in the closed 

 wings. 



FOOD. Herbage, roots, and grain, supplemented by 

 insects and other small life. 



